Seventh edition of the prestigious equestrian event takes place 7-8 February 2026
Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Equestrian Village – AlFursan hosts close to 300 participants from over 72 countries for two days of world-class racing
Event serves as a key preview ahead of November’s FEI World Endurance Championship in AlUla
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AlUla: After weeks of excitement and anticipation, AlFursan Endurance AlUla Presented by Defender returns this weekend with a stacked field of world-class riders and horses ready to compete in one of the most prestigious events on the international endurance calendar.
Organised by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation (SAEF) and under the supervision of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), the seventh edition of AlFursan Endurance AlUla Presented by Defender promises two days of elite competition, cultural celebration, and championship-level racing across AlUla’s stunning terrain.
Taking place 7-8 February 2026, the event welcomes almost 300 riders from over 70 countries to the Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Equestrian Village – AlFursan as competitors and their Arabian horses tackle vast distances across one of the most physically demanding, and visually striking, courses in the sport.
Less than 24 hours out from the opening race, the stage is firmly set for an event that will act as a major milestone in the countdown to the FEI Endurance World Championship, which will be hosted in AlUla in November.
Dr. Anas Hassan, Technical Consultant at the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation, said: “The Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation is proud to partner with an event that meets the strict standards of the FEI and reflects our deep equestrian heritage. AlFursan Endurance AlUla Presented by Defender is the result of a seamless collaboration between the Federation, our partners, and the Royal Commission for AlUla. Together, we have created an event that ensures athletes, horses, and teams compete in conditions that are safe, fair, and world-class.”
AlFursan Endurance AlUla Presented by Defender will unfold across two days of elite racing. Day 1 (Saturday, 7 February) features the CEI2* – 120km endurance race, showcasing a top-class field of riders and horses in a demanding test of pace, preparation, and partnership. A total of 200 paticipants will compete in the race.
Day 2 (Sunday, 8 February) raises the stakes even higher with the CEI3* – 160km event – endurance racing’s ultimate test of stamina, strategy, and horsemanship, with 95 riders taking part.
Among the top riders competing are France’s Melody Theolissa, bronze medalist at the 2024 FEI World Championship and current world number one; and reigning European Champion Marijke Visser of the Netherlands.
They are joined by former World and multiple European Champion Jaume Punti Dachs from Spain, two-time European Champion Sabrina Arnold of Germany, and rising Saudi talent Muhannad Alsalmi, winner of the 2025 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup.
The course will take riders past many of AlUla’s most iconic and treasured landmarks, including Elephant Rock and Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering athletes and spectators alike unforgettable sights as racing unfolds against a truly extraordinary backdrop.
Beyond the racing, AlFursan Endurance AlUla continues to celebrate AlUla’s deep equestrian heritage and cultural identity. Throughout the weekend, visitors can enjoy immersive cultural activations, live performances, family-friendly experiences, and rider engagements; all carefully curated to bring the event village to life and create a festival atmosphere around the competition.
The 2026 edition holds particular significance as a major event ahead of the FEI Endurance World Championship, the pinnacle of long-distance equestrian sport. In November, the world’s best will return to AlUla to compete across the same demanding environment, further cementing the region’s reputation as a global destination for elite equestrian sport.
Ziad Alsuhaibani, Chief Sports Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “AlFursan Endurance AlUla Presented by Defender represents an important milestone to start an exciting year ahead of the FEI Endurance World Championship – the pinnacle of long-distance equestrian sport. This is a moment of great pride for AlUla and for Saudi Arabia. It is a reward for the work and dedication that has gone into building a world-class equestrian ecosystem here.”
With millennia of horsemanship etched into its sandstone cliffs, AlUla has long honoured the bond between human and horse. In recent years, the region has emerged as a premier location for world-class equestrian events, hosting other landmark competitions including AlUla Desert Polo.
AlFursan Endurance AlUla forms a key part of the AlUla Moments 2025/26 calendar – a year-round programme of events and festivals that showcase AlUla as a destination for sport, culture, heritage, and exploration.
